Apparatus for forming a hollow body of concrete or the like



June 11,1957 I E. w. KRAus Er AL 2,795,026

APPARATUS FOR FORMING A HOLLOW BODY OF CONCRETE OR THE LIKE a l I i l- I 7 1.4,,"

J x: W int a N *i ll .jfif i a 1 a INVENTORS n 5 Edward lifjYrams [aim 15f Farr APPARATUS FOR FORMING AHOLLOW BODY OF CONCRETE OR THE LIKE Filed NOV. 12, 1953 June 11 1957 w. KRAUS ET A:.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS [dam/d fir'j'i'au' 1 y lafiil F HTTOPIVEY I June 11, 19 57 APPARATUS FOR FORMING A HOLLOW BODY OF CONCRETE OR THE LIKE Filed Now 12, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS fif'firaus joint 5. Farr l7 7 TOR/V5 Y United States APPARATUS FOR FORMING A HOLLOW BODY F CONCRETE OR THE LIKE Application November 12, 1953, Serial No. 391,432

4 Claims. (Cl. 25-4-30) This invention relates to an apparatus for forming a hollow body of concrete or the like, and is of a type havmg an open-ended mould suspended from a roller or suspension shaft extending through the mould. The apparatus is useful 'for moulding concrete pipe. In such an apparatus the mould includes a cylindrical shell and a pair of annular members or mould end rings which are -at tached to the shell and extend radially inwardly therefrom. The inner edges of the mould end rings bear upon the roller. A relatively dry concrete mix is supplied to the interior of the mould as the mould is rotated by the roller. The roller distributes and firmly compacts the concrete within the mould.

In apparatus of this character, the mould is customarily carried endwise from one end of the roller and held free from the roller until the bearing for the outboard end of the roller is placed in roller-supporting position. The outboard end of the roller mustbe engaged by an outboard bearing before the rolleris subjected to the weight of the mould. Useful operating time of the apparatus is lost in properly readying the outboard hearing when moulds are changed because the outboard end of the roller tends to depress and it is often diflicult, particularly when making the longer length of pipe, to insert the depressed end of the roller in its bearing as the bearing is moved to its operational position.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type generally described wherein the gate or support for the outboard bearing is provided with meansfor facilitating disengagement and re-engagement of the outboard end of the roller intermediate moulding operations.

Another object of the invention is to improve the efiiciency of such an apparatus and provide a roller or roller unit comprising two journalled shaft sections and a middle shaft section which are detachably secured together in alignment whereby the middle'shaft section may be replaced without dispensing with the more durable shaft sections at its ends when the middle section becomes worn or when a roller of larger or smaller diameter is required for moulding pipes of different sizes.

The middle shaft section is preferably in theform of a tube having flanges at its ends, whereby flanges on the end shafts may be attached by the use of screws. The middle shaft sections of different diameters all have similar flangesso that one may be replaced for another for moulding pipes and other hollow bodies of different sizes.

lnthe apparatus of the'present invention, one of the journalled shaft sections is more or less permanently journalled in a bearing located at one end of the apparatus. This shaft is driven from a motor. The driven shaft is journalled in a bearing having the capacity to resist axial and radial thrusts of the roller assembly. The. outward shaft section which is fastened to the middle shaft section carries a self-aligningbearing adapted to'be supported: by a'split housing. The lower half of this housing is mounted in such a manner that; it may be lowered away from the bearing in order to permit the gate or'other support for atent C ice the bearing to be moved endwise of the shaft without interference from the bearing on the shaft. The arrange ment is such that when the housing for the outboard hearing is opened, the shaft is permitted to tilt slightly in the bearing supporting the power shaft at the other end of the roller.v In order to enable this tilting movement of the roller assembly to occur, a member in the form of a third bearing or cradle isprovided to limit or restrain the vertical movement of the roller assembly when it is not supported at its outboard end.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the outboard bearing on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. y j

A pipe mould is illustrated in Fig. '1. The mould inciudes'a cylindrical'shell 10 and mould end rings 11 and 12which are secured to the shell. Theroller upon which and by which the mould is rotated comprises a middle shaft section 13 and two end shaft sections, a driven shaft section 14 and an outboard shaft section 15, connected together in alignment. The middle shaft section 13 is preferably in the form of a'tube having flanges 16 and 17 at itsends. As best shown in Fig. 5, the flange 16 is provided by a plate welded to the tube and has a series of tapped holes for receiving screws 18 extending through holes in a flange '19 of the shaftsection 14. The latter shaft section has a central boss 20 for engaging a central opening in the plate. theflange 17 is also provided by a plate and has a plurality of tapped holes for receiving the screws 21 which extend through holes in the flange 22 of the outboard is suspended.

shaft section 15; The shaft section 15 has a boss 23 engaged in a central opening in the plate of the flange 17.

i As thus assembled, the middle shaft 13 and the end shafts 14 and 15 constitute a unitary roller on which the mould Referring to Fig. 5, the end shaft 14 is journalled in a flexible or self-aligning bearing 25 which is constructed to resist axial and lateral thrusts. The pillow block 26 of this bearing comprises two hub-like members secured together and fastened to the underside of a supporting cross-member 27. The bearing includes a split adapter sleeve 28 which is tightened onto the shaft 14 by the nuts 29 and 30. The inner races 31 and 32 are disposed between the nuts 29 and 30. The outer race 33 has an outer spherical surface contacting with similar inside surfaces on the pillow block whereby angular tipping of the shaft with respect to the axis of the pillow block is permitted. The pillow block 26 and the bearing 25 serve as the sole support for the driven end of the roller during a moulding operation.

In between moulding operations, the idle roller is supported by the pillow block which houses the bearing 25 and also by a cradle member 35 located between the bearing 25 and the driven end of the shaft section 14; This cradle member is bolted to a cross-member 36 of the main frame. The cradle member 35 has a downwardly facing circular surface 37 which clears the shaft section 14 when the roller is rotatably supported at both ends. The surface 37 is pitched'to provide a broad bearing surface for the shaft section 14 when the outboard end As best shown in Fig. 4,

' t 3 of the roller is unsupported and the roller is slightly inclined.

The cross-members 27 and 36 are rigidly joinedtogether and are supported by four posts 38 extending up-.

wardly from a rectangular base frame 39. The power for driving the roller is obtained from a motor 41 which drivesa belt connection 42,a speed changing mechanism 43, a chain and sprocket connection 44, and the sprocket wheel 45 attached to the shaft section 14.

At the other end of the apparatus the gate 46 is pivotally supported from a post 47 (Fig. 3) which extends upwardly from the base frame 39. The gate comprises a horizontal member 48 which is pivotally' connected to thebrackets 49 and 50 by a hinge pin' 51. The free end of the" gate is supported by a tie rod 52 having one end connected toa sleeve 53 surrounding a hinge pin 54 which extends through holes in the brackets 55 and 56. The brackets 49, 50, 55 and 56 are carried by the post 47.' The other end of the tie rod 52 engages an eye member 57 extending upwardly from the horizontal gate member 48. The free end of the gate 48 closes against a post 58 where it is locked by the tightening of a nut 59 against a plate 60 on the gate. The nut engages a threaded member 61, pivoted at 62 to the post 58. A handwheel 63 is provided for firmly tightening the nut 59 against the plate 60.

The gate supports the bearing block 65 for the outboard bearing 66. The bearing block 65 is a split block comprising an upper portion or base 67 and a lower portion or cap 68. The base 67 is bolted to the gate member 48 by bolts 69. The base includes a curved member 70 having a semi-circular surface. 71 for engaging the outer bearing unit 72 of the outboard bearing 66. The cap 68 of the bearing block has a curved member 73 with a semi-circular surface 74 which also engages the outer bearing unit 72 of the bearing 66.

When the bearing block is closed, the semi-circular surfaces 71 and 74 provide a continuous cylindrical surface for containing the outer bearing unit 72 against radial movement while permitting axial movement thereof.

The outer bearing unit 72 contains the outer races 75 and .76. The inner bearing unit includes a split adapter sleeve 77 which is seized upon the shaft 15 by a pair of nuts 78, 79. These nuts engage sealing rings which in turn engage the inner races 80, 81.

The lower portion of the bearing block or cap 68 is supported by two pairs of vertically extending rods 83 68 of the bearing block and at the same time raise the outboard end of the roller. After the bearing block has been closed, and the bearing 66 is properly supported, the mould is lowered onto the roller. The motor 41 is then placed in operation and the filling of the mould is proceeded with. After the concrete has been compacted to a uniform wall thickness, the mould and its contained product is lifted from the roller. Thereafter the cap 68 may be lowered and the gate 46 opened to permit the mould to be removed'endwise from the roller.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the specific description herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the particular showing herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming a hollow body of concrete or the like, comprising a hollow rotary mould having spaced-apart annular members extending radially inwardly of the outer moulding surface of said mould, a roller for rotating said mould, said roller extending through said mould and suspending said mould by engagingsaid annular members, a stationary frame disposed adjacent an end of said roller, a radial and axial thrustresisting bearing mounted on said frame and engaging said roller, a member normally out of supporting engagement with said roller and disposed to engage said roller when said roller is inclined downwardly from its normal position of rotation, a movable frame adjacent the outand 84 whose lower ends are threaded into flanges in the v cap 68. These rods extend through openings in the gate member 48 and are engaged at their upper ends to a plate 85 by nuts 86. The plate 85 is'reinforced on its upper side by webbing 87... The cap 68, rods 83 and 84, and the plate 85 constitute a vertically movable frame which is supported and actuated by a non-rotatable screw 88 in threaded engagement with an internally threaded worm gear 89. The worm gear is mounted for rotation in a casing 90 which is fastened to the gate member 48. The rotary position of the worm gear 89 is controlled by a worm 91 which is actuated by a sprocket and chain connection 92, a sprocket wheel 93 of which is fast to a shaft 94 journalled in bearings carried by the member 48. The shaft 94 is rotatable by a handwheel 95.

For readying the moulding apparatus for operation, the handwheel 95 isturned so as to lower the screw 88 and thus lower the cap 68 of the bearing block. Concurrently the outboard end of the roller depresses and the roller becomes supported by the bearing 25 and the cradle member 35. This movement of the roller enables the entire bearing blockto clear the bearing 66 on the outboard end of the roller as the gate 48 is swung open on its pivot pins 51 and 54. When the gate is fully opened, the mould is placed about the roller between the flanges 16 and 17, audit is held supported from the roller until the gate is closed and secured by rotating the handwheel 63. The handwheel 95 is then operated to raise the cap board end of said roller, :1 bearing block carried by said movable frame, said block having separable upper and lower portions, a self-aligning bearing mounted on the outboard end of said roller and adapted to be supported in said bearing block, and means to lower said lower portion of said bearing block to release said self-aligning bearing and said roller from support at its outboard end and to raise said lower portion of said bearing block to engage said self-aligning bearing and support said roller at its outboard end.

2. Apparatus for forming a hollow body of concrete or the like, comprising a hollow rotary mould having spaced-apart annular members extending radially inwardly of the outer moulding surface of said mould, a roller for rotating 7 said mould, said roller extending through said mould and suspending said mould by engaging said annular members, said roller comprising a plurality of shaft sections including a shaft section detachably connected to one end of a second shaft section and a third shaft section detachably connected to the other end of said second shaft section, a stationary frame, a radial and axial thrust-resisting bearing carried by said frame and rotatably supporting said first shaft section, a bearing engaging said third shaft section, supporting means for said last-named bearing, said supporting means being movably mounted for displacement away from and towards said third shaft section in a direction substantially endwise of said third shaft section, said supporting means including asplit bearing block for containing said lastnamed bearing, means engageable with said first shaft section and cooperating with said first-named bearing for supporting said roller when said supporting means for said last-named bearing is displaced from said third shaft section.

3. Apparatus for forming a hollow body of concrete or the like, comprising a hollow rotary mould having spaced-apart annular members extending radially inwardly of the outer moulding surface of said mould, a roller for rotating said mould, said roller extending through said mould and suspending said mould be engaging said annular members, a stationary frame disposed adjacent an end of said roller, bearing means mounted on said stationary frame and supporting said end of said roller, a movable frame adjacent the other or outboard end of said roller, support means for said movable frame enabling movement of said frame substantially endwise of said roller, an outboard bearing for rotatably supporting said outboard end of said roller, means carried by said movable frame for supporting said outboard bearing, and means disposed to one side of said first-named bearing means and normally spaced out of engagement with said roller but adapted to be engaged by said roller to limit the tilting of the axis of said roller about said first-named bearing means when the outboard end of said roller is unsupported.

4. Apparatus for forming a hollow body of concrete or the like, comprising a hollow rotary mould having spaced-apart annular members extending radially inwardly of the outer moulding surface of said mould, a roller adapted to engage said annular members for supporting said mould, bearing means supporting one end of said roller, a movable frame adjacent the other or outboard end of said roller, support means for said movable frame enabling movement of said frame substantially endwise of said roller, a bearing mounted on the outboard end of said roller, means for supporting said outboard bearing, said outboard bearing-supporting means being mounted on said movable frame and including a member engageable with and disengageable from said outboard bearing, means for actuating said member into and out of engagement with said outboard bearing, and means for guiding the movement of said member laterally to the axis of said roller so that upon operation of said actuating means in one direction the outboard bearing is engaged by said member to support the outboard end of said roller and upon operation of said actuating means in the opposite direction said member is lowered to clear said outboard bearing and thereby enable said movable frame to be displaced from roller-supporting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,582,586 Dundas Apr. 22, 1926 1,819,188 Melville et a1. Aug. 18, 1931 1,832,066 Von Webern Nov. 17, 1931 2,278,858 Fields Apr. 7, 1942 2,499,387 Johnson Mar. 7, 1950 2,560,426 Fitzpatrick July 10, 1951 2,671,260 Jensen et a1. Mar. 9, 1954 

